Satellite states, Cominform and Comecon

Question 1

What were satellite states?

Answer 1

Countries under the control of the USSR

Question 2

What did the USSR agree to in the Yalta and Potsdam conferences but choose not to honour?

Answer 2

Free elections in the countries in their sphere of influence

Question 3

How did the USSR control their satellite states?

Answer 3

• Fixed elections made sure the communist party won.

- Once in power the communists shut down the opposition parties and each country became a single state party.

Question 4

What was Cominform and when was it set up?

Answer 4

1947: It was a bureau which organised all the communist parties in Europe and arranged their leadership so they would do what Moscow told them to.

Question 5

What was the two key aims of Cominform?

Answer 5

• To get rid of any opposition in satellite states

- To encourage communist parties in western countries to reject Marshall Plan assistance

Question 6

What was Comecon?

Answer 6

The soviet alternative to the Marshall Plan, financial support for countries to try to stop the spread of capitalism

Question 7

What are the two key things that Comecon did?

Answer 7

1) Built up trade links between Comecon countries

2) Prevented Comecon countries signing up to the Marshall Plan